The Marcellus Shale industry boomed in the last few years, and Southwestern Pennsylvania has been a center of that activity. For some people here, the boom was literal: the first warning many residents and even emergency personnel had that a well had been drilled near the popular Pittsburgh Mills shopping area was a giant fireball blazing on a plateau overlooking the stores, flaring off emissions from the well. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is proposing a new notification regulation to make certain that never happens again. The proposal requires industry to inform ACHD when ‘milestones’ occur at a well site, which are activities in the drilling and extraction process that could produce high emissions.  Inspectors can go to the right place, at the right time.  They can sample the air while a well is being fracked, or monitor a flare’s opacity to ensure that pollutants are properly controlled. We’ve worked with ACHD on getting some protections in place that go beyond the state minimums.  It’s good to see ACHD being proactive.  Some of our political leaders are pushing for more drilling in Allegheny County.  Having these rules in place before that happens will be extremely helpful. Comments on the notification system will be taken until Dec. 3.  GASP recently published a Handbook that explains air pollution laws, common Marcellus pollutants, and the commenting process. Access the Handbook here: http://j.mp/MsHbk. More information from ACHD on how to comment on this proposal can be found at http://j.mp/V4uuv3. The notification rules themselves are available at http://j.mp/RgEFRJ. #airpollution #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #MarcellusShale

On Thursday, Dec. 6, come hear from experts from across the region speak on the links between indoor air quality and the triple bottom line. Attend this workshop, the third in the “Champions for Sustainability” Air Quality Workshop Series, to learn actions relating to air quality that you can put into practice to help improve productivity, health, wellness, and effectiveness of employees in the workplace. This program features a presentation on the benefits of knowing about daily air quality forecasts as well as practical advice on improving both ambient and indoor air quality including: using plants, preventing sick building syndrome, creating smoke-free and fragrance-free work environments, and choosing building systems that provide fresh air. Regional companies that have been leading the way in building their corporate culture to improve employee health, morale, and productivity through better air quality will share their experiences. Who should attend? Human resource managers, corporate sustainability coordinators, company green team members and leaders, building operators, and any employees from all sectors who are interested in learning ways to improve their work environments, increase their health and wellness, increase productivity through improved air quality. More information, the agenda, and registration info here. #airquality #ChampionsforSustainability

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has scheduled a hearing on the Shamrock Compressor Station in Fayette County for Tuesday, Nov. 13.  At 6:30 PM, an hour-long open house will begin, followed by time for public comments to be taken. To present testimony, click here for instructions. To better understand the changes being proposed, click here to review pertinent permit documents. The rapid development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas play in Pennsylvania has raised many concerns about the impact the industry will have on the air quality specifically, and the environment and the health generally of those living near natural gas facilities. Our new Citizens Handbook was created to inform citizens about air pollution resulting from natural gas drilling and production, describe how these emissions are controlled through the permitting process, and explain how individuals can “comment” on these permits before they are finalized.  Commenting gives individuals or organizations an opportunity to voice their concerns and helps to ensure that the final permit adequately controls emissions. Read the Citizen Handbook and have your voice heard! #publichearing #airpollution #ShamrockCompressorStation #MarcellusShale #airquality

Here’s a look at the Allegheny County Health Department’s revised Air Toxics Guidlines proposal. These guidelines were modified based on further input received from various stakeholders.  The guidelines will be voted on by the Board of Health on November 7th.  The meeting starts at 12:30 and will be held in the 1st floor conference room of Building 7, at 39th Street and Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville. Please contact us for more information or questions about the guidelines, or meet us there–we’re hoping for a large turnout to show the Health Department that the citizens are demanding updated guidelines. #airtoxics #AlleghenyCountyBoardofHealth #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #Lawrenceville

The rapid development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas play in Pennsylvania has raised many concerns about the impact the industry will have on the environment and the health of those living near natural gas facilities. The purpose of this handbook is to inform citizens about air pollution resulting from natural gas drilling and production, describe how these emissions are controlled through the permitting process, and explain how individuals can “comment” on these permits before they are finalized. Commenting gives individuals or organizations an opportunity to voice their air quality and other concerns and helps to ensure that the final permit adequately controls emissions. Read the Citizen Handbook and have your voice heard! #airpollution #airpermits #emissions #publiccomments #MarcellusShale #airquality

Like in any urban area with a large number of vehicles, Pittsburgh breathers suffer from diesel air pollution.  Trucks, trains, boats, buses, and construction equipment all emit exhaust that contains ultrafine particles small enough to avoid the body’s defense systems and travel straight into the bloodstream.  This type of air pollution is linked to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and premature deaths. GASP hopes to get a handle on the region’s diesel pollution with the help of local residents.  Concerned about dirty diesel and its effect on your local air quality?  If you have a bicycle or a smartphone, you can help collect data that will identify hotspots of diesel pollution in the region, whether due to high levels of diesel activity or individual companies with dirty fleets. We need the help of cyclists to complete a reliable map of particulate matter in Pittsburgh.  Volunteers will strap air pollution monitors to the front of their bikes and gather data as they ride.  We’ll get a close-up picture of the type of air quality cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists are encountering on their commutes.  This will help us pinpoint areas of concentrated air pollution. The bike monitoring project was made possible by a grant from Google, which has many cycling commuters at their Bakery Square office in Pittsburgh.  We’ll overlay the air data onto Google Maps, so Pittsburghers can see potential air pollution problem areas.  To learn more or to volunteer for the project, visit gasp-pgh.org/projects/bam/. GASP is also launching a less physically challenging project aimed at capturing diesel information. Smartphone owners can now send pictures of smoking diesel vehicles straight to GASP.  The photos pop up on a map.  Anyone can see the photos and map, and anyone can contribute pictures.  We’ll quickly get a sense of which companies show up a lot in the images, and which streets generate a lot of complaints.  GASP will follow up with the worst offenders to see what the problem is.  It’s hard to argue with a hundred pictures. The project is part of “SENSR,” which came out of the Living Environments Lab at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).  Sunyoung Kim, a Ph.D candidate in Human-Computer Interaction Institute at CMU who developed the SENSR app, explains “as researchers and social activists, we explore ways to promote grassroots efforts and activism through technology.   SENSR particularly focuses on lowering technical barriers for citizen science to easily make use of mobile and computing technologies.  We hope that our efforts can help foster grassroots participation for our everyday life, health, and well-being.” For more information and to participate, download the SENSR app and choose “Dirty Diesels.”  You can also view the project and other citizen science projects at www.sensr.org. These two programs allow concerned citizens to directly participate in making a difference in Pittsburgh’s air quality.  They’re easy and fun to use, and don’t require a big-time commitment.  A few minutes pushing a few buttons helps us better quantify our diesel problem.  The more ways for citizens to have a say in their communities, the better.  Help us fight for better air quality in Pittsburgh. #airpollution #BakerySquare #LivingEnvironmentsLab #diesel #emissions #particlepollution #dieselemissions #airquality

This weekend, GASP has two great events lined up for you. Saturday, October 6, is the South Side Slopes StepTrek 2012.  Pittsburgh has the most public steps of any city in the nation, and the Slopes has the most of any Pittsburgh neighborhood.  Come see what’s at the tops of the hills and in the bottom of the valleys, in the company of hundreds of other curious StepTrekkers. Expect many scenic views, beautiful churches, and shady, half-secret passages on these walks.  GASP will be at the Marketplace at the start and finish of the event, giving out free pedometers so you can count every last step you put in.  StepTrek is from 11 AM to 4 PM.  Visit the SSS Neighborhood Association web site for more details. Then on Sunday, October 7, GASP is leading another hike with Venture Outdoors, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and the Audubon Society.  We’ll be taking an easy stroll for several miles through Frick Park, learning about all the native and non-native species around us, the history of the park, and how air quality can affect athletes’ health. This air quality hike goes from 1 to 4 PM.  Learn more and sign up at the Venture Outdoors site. #airquality #FrickPark #hike #VentureOutdoors

CONTACT: Group Against Smog & Pollution Joe Osborne GASP Legal Director 412-325-7382 joe@gasp-pgh.org McConway & Torley David Margulies 214-368-0909 davidm@prexperts.net MCCONWAY & TORLEY AND GASP ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO REDUCE AIR EMISSIONS FROM LAWRENCEVILLE STEEL FOUNDRY McConway and Torley, LLC (M&T) and the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) have finalized an agreement regarding air emission reductions at M&T’s Lawrenceville steel foundry.  M&T has operated its Lawrenceville foundry since the 1860s.  The foundry manufactures steel castings and employs 273 individuals.  GASP is a Pittsburgh-based environmental nonprofit that has worked on air quality issues in southwestern Pennsylvania for over 40 years. In January 2011 the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued an air permit for the reactivation of an electric arc furnace at the Lawrenceville foundry.  GASP appealed the permit based on concerns about potential emissions of heavy metals from the facility.  M&T approached GASP to collaborate on a potential solution. M&T and GASP agreed to supplemental emission controls over and above that required by the EPA or ACHD, including a more effective collection hood on the existing furnace and membrane fabric filters on the furnace baghouses.  The improvements further reduce emissions of particulate matter and heavy metals from the facility.  The agreement allows M&T to proceed with its planned plant modernization, simultaneously providing more manufacturing jobs and improved air quality. “This agreement once again disproves the notion that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are incompatible,” said Rachel Filippini, GASP’s executive director. M&T and GASP are pleased with the working relationship they have established and the additional air emission reductions that will result from this agreement. #McConwayandTorley #AlleghenyCountyHealthDeparment #emissions #ACHD #airquality

March 10th, 2011, 5:00 PM 4th Floor-Gold Room, 436 Grant St., Allegheny County Courthouse Come hear and be heard in County Council Chambers. Register to speak by 3/9/11 by clicking here and craft a three-minute masterpiece, or just come and listen to your fellow citizens. Expect a crowded room and an energetic buzz as democracy is put to work. #AlleghenyCountyCouncil #MarcellusShale #publichearing